WO2007054104A1 - A retrofittable cruise control - Google Patents

A retrofittable cruise control Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007054104A1
WO2007054104A1 PCT/DK2006/050066 DK2006050066W WO2007054104A1 WO 2007054104 A1 WO2007054104 A1 WO 2007054104A1 DK 2006050066 W DK2006050066 W DK 2006050066W WO 2007054104 A1 WO2007054104 A1 WO 2007054104A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cruise control
control unit
vehicle
bus
data communication
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/DK2006/050066
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jørgen Kruse HANSEN
Original Assignee
Dancar Autosikring Aps
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Filing date
Publication date
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Application filed by Dancar Autosikring Aps filed Critical Dancar Autosikring Aps
Priority to EP06805603A priority Critical patent/EP1951540A1/en
Publication of WO2007054104A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007054104A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K31/00—Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator
    • B60K31/02—Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator including electrically actuated servomechanism including an electric control system or a servomechanism in which the vehicle velocity affecting element is actuated electrically
    • B60K31/04—Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator including electrically actuated servomechanism including an electric control system or a servomechanism in which the vehicle velocity affecting element is actuated electrically and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cruise control for engine- powered vehicles such as passenger cars and goods vans. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cruise control adapted for retrofitting in motor vehicles not prepared for retrofitting of a cruise control.
  • the manufacturer will then, in connection with the manufacture, equip the car with wiring that enables an operating device mounted in the cabin of the car to be connected to the engine computer of the car, which implements the cruise control function.
  • the car If the car is not ordered with the cruise control, the car will be equipped with reduced wiring for cost reasons, the wiring necessary for connecting the operating device to the engine computer being omitted to save costs.
  • Danish utility model DK BR 2004 00263 describes a cruise control which fundamentally overcomes these problems.
  • a prior-art cruise control has gained high popularity for retrofitting in a large number of vehicles, it still has several disadvantages.
  • a first disadvantage is the fitting time, which is 40-45 minutes despite the fact that most of the fitting is done by means of plug connections.
  • Another disadvantage is that it is not possible to coordinate the function of the cruise control with, especially, safety equipment in the car such as ESP, ABS and airbag. The cruise control will therefore continue to function in situations in which the car airbag may have been released without the driver having stepped on the brake pedal beforehand, which would otherwise tell the cruise control to stop maintaining speed. The same will apply in situations where the ESP of the car comes into function to stabilise the car without the driver having stepped on the brake or the clutch.
  • a third disadvantage is the situation where the car is put into neutral with the cruise control activated, for example in connection with an accident or inadvertently due to the movement of persons in the car. In such case the cruise control might overrev the engine and destroy it.
  • DE-A-10009170 describes a cruise control which communicates via the databus of the vehicle, such as a CAN bus.
  • the publication does not concern itself with retrofitting, but deals with compensation for the speedometer deviation.
  • cruise control solutions are also known in which the engine computer is programmed with a cruise control function by the factory. This cruise control function is activated when an operating member is connected to the bus.
  • the disadvantage of this solution is that it can only be used for certain cars, viz., those cars for which the manufacturer has opted in advance to enter the cruise control function in the program of the engine computer.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome these and other disadvantages of the prior art.
  • a cruise control in which the cruise control comprises a cruise control unit adapted for insertion between the position sensor in the accelerator of the vehicle and the engine computer of the vehicle, a first electrical connecting cable for connecting the cruise control unit to the position sensor in the accelerator of the vehicle, and a second connecting cable for connecting the cruise control unit to the engine computer of the vehicle, the cruise control unit being characterized in that it is adapted to communicate via at least one data communication bus in the vehicle. Adaptation of the cruise control for communication via the existing databus in the vehicle allows for easier and a more fail-safe connection of the cruise control, which considerably reduces the necessary working time for retrofitting the cruise control in a vehicle.
  • the cruise control unit of the cruise control becomes able to monitor and take account of signals on the data communication bus that indicate activation of safety equipment or procedures on which the continued activation of the cruise control might have a negative effect. Automatic deactivation of the cruise control in such cases with the resulting safety enhancement thus becomes possible.
  • the cruise control unit transmits a signal via the databus, which signal, vis-a-vis the engine computer of the vehicle, emulates a specific depression of the accelerator pedal - which deviates from the actual depression - instead of the actual signal from the accelerator pedal, retrofitting becomes possible quite independently of the programming of the engine computer, that is, whether or not it is pre-programmed with a cruise control function.
  • the cruise control is adapted so that communication with the cruise control unit via the data communication bus is performed as one-way communication from the data communication bus to the cruise control unit.
  • the cruise control also comprises an operating member, and that the communication between the operating member and the cruise control unit is performed via the data communication bus. This saves further connections and thereby fitting time. Therefore, according to yet a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cruise control is adapted so that the communication with the operating member via the data communication bus is performed as one-way communication from the operating member to the data communication bus. This is advantageous as it is fully compatible with the one-way communication to the cruise control unit.
  • the data communication bus is a CAN bus and/or a VAN bus.
  • This allows the use of the very same cruise control unit for a large number of different makes and models of vehicles, as these buses have gained widespread application.
  • the only requirements are cables with suitable connectors and programming of the cruise control unit that can be made on site in connection with fitting into a vehicle.
  • the communication from the operating member to the cruise control unit is performed via the VAN bus. It is advantageous to use the VAN bus rather than the CAN bus as this bus only communicates information that does not relate to any safety equipment in the vehicle.
  • the operating member comprises plugs adapted for plug connection with existing sockets in the vehicle. Modern vehicles with a CAN bus and/or a VAN bus will normally be prepared with sockets for plugging in suitable operating members intended for, for example, operation of factory-fitted cruise controls. Therefore, in the cases relevant to the present invention, where in fact no factory-fitted cruise control exists, they will conveniently be available at the retrofitting of a cruise control.
  • Fig. 1 shows a cruise control unit for use in the cruise control according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a suitable cable bundle comprising cables for use in a cruise control according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 shows an operating member according to a preferred embodiment of the cruise control according to the invention
  • Fig. 4 shows a programming device for use in on-site programming of a retrofitted cruise control according to the invention
  • Fig. 5 shows the connection of cables to the cruise control unit in the cruise control according to the invention.
  • Fig. 6 shows an example of the retrofitting of a cruise control according to the invention below the steering-wheel of a vehicle.
  • the cruise control according to the invention only comprises the four parts shown in Figs. 1 to 4, respectively, that is, a cruise control unit 1 as shown in Fig. 1, a prefabricated cable bundle as shown in Fig. 2, an operating member 35 as shown in Fig. 3 and a programming unit as shown in Fig. 4. These parts will be described in more detail below.
  • Fig. 1 thus more specifically shows a cruise control unit 1, which is provided with suitable multisockets 8, 9, 10 for connection of cables 11, 12, 13 with suitable complementary plugs, 14, 15, 16, respectively. Plugs 14, 15, 16 and cables 11, 12, 13 are shown in other Figures, best in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.
  • the cruise control unit 1 is adapted for insertion between the position sensor in the accelerator pedal of the vehicle and the engine computer of the vehicle, and in dependency of the speed signal of the vehicle it can emulate a particular depression of the accelerator pedal - which deviates from the actual depression - vis-a-vis the engine computer of the vehicle as described in the Danish utility model DK BR 2004 00263.
  • the cables 11, 12, 13 are included in a pre-fabricated cable bundle comprising all the cables and connectors necessary for retrofitting the cruise control in a vehicle.
  • the cable bundle thus also includes cables and connectors for connection to one or more of the data communication buses of the vehicle.
  • the pre-fabricated cable bundle shown in Fig. 1 comprises cables and connectors allowing for connection of the cruise control unit 1 to both a VAN bus and a CAN bus.
  • the connectors 20, 21 mounted on respective cables 22, 23 thus allow connection to a CAN bus.
  • the connectors 24, 25 mounted on respective cables 26, 27 allow connection to a VAN bus.
  • the actual connection is performed in the same way as in relation to the accelerator mentioned above, that is, by pulling apart an existing plug connection and inserting the two cables in-between.
  • This is best seen in Fig. 6, where the plug 28 of the existing CAN bus cable 29 has been pulled out of the socket 30 of a communication box 31 below the steering-wheel 32 in the vehicle. Instead, the plug 20 on the cable 22 is plugged into the socket 30 in the communication box, and the plug 28 is instead plugged into the corresponding socket 21 on the other cable 23.
  • the communication on the bus is thereby transmitted to the cruise control unit 1, which can thus monitor the communication on the CAN bus.
  • the plug 33 on the VAN bus cable 34 has been pulled out of a socket, not shown, in the communication box 31, into which the plug 24 on the cable 26 is plugged instead.
  • the plug 33 is instead plugged into the corresponding socket 25 on the cable 27 so that the communication on the VAN bus can be read by the cruise control unit 1.
  • the communication box handles a large number of communications, including communications from various operating members, such as switches for flashing indicators, horn, windscreen wipers, lights, etc.
  • a plug-in possibility has been provided in connection with the driver's seat, and particularly near the steering-wheel, for an operating member for a cruise control, typically a stem control with the switches or buttons necessary for operating the cruise control. If no cruise control was fitted into the vehicle during manufacture, this plug-in possibility will be vacant for plugging in a suitable operating member 35 for the cruise control, the operating member according to a preferred embodiment, of course, being provided with a suitable plug 36 as shown in Fig. 3.
  • this operating member 35 As soon as this operating member 35 has been plugged in, it will be able to communicate via the databus with the retrofitted cruise control unit 1, partly via the existing part of the databus cables, partly via one of the retrofitted databus cables 22, 26, which are connected to the existing databus cables in the vehicle, not shown.
  • the cruise control unit may thus be told via the databus which of the switches 37, 38 on the operating member 35 has been actuated. If the vehicle does not have the desired plug-in possibility provided by the factory, the operating member has to be fitted in another manner and, for example, be connected to the databus via a separate cable connection.
  • a preferred embodiment of the invention also includes the programming unit 39 shown in Fig. 4.
  • the programming unit 39 has an operating part in the form of a switch 40. After fitting, the operating part is connected to the cruise control unit 1 via the cable 13 and the plug 16, which complements the socket 10 on the cruise control unit 1 as illustrated in Fig. 5. Then, by repeatedly pressing the switch 40, a suitable program or settings are selected in connection with the programming of the cruise control unit 1 so that the cruise control can be used together with the relevant car model in which the cruise control has been retrofitted. This may be done on site in connection with the retrofitting of the cruise control. After completion of the programming, the programming unit 39 is removed from the socket 10 in the cruise control unit 1, and the retrofitted cruise control is ready for use.
  • the present invention provides an improved cruise control for retrofitting, which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above.
  • particular emphasis should be given to the reduction in the time used for fitting the cruise control-
  • Preliminary experiments have shown that the fitting time for retrofitting the cruise control according to the invention is substantially reduced compared with prior art according to Danish utility model DK BR 2004 00263, for which the fitting time is typically 40-45 minutes, viz. to a third or fourth thereof, that is, about 10-15 minutes.
  • cables and connectors including those of the operating member, will depend on the manufacturer, make and model of the vehicle into which the cruise control is to be fitted. There may also be differences depending on whether the vehicle has implemented one of or both the VAN and CAN databuses, and the person skilled in the art will also be able to modify the invention for other databuses in vehicles.
  • the communication box is only an example, and that it may be designed in innumerable ways or even be entirely omitted. The connections shown are thus only examples.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Controls For Constant Speed Travelling (AREA)

Abstract

A cruise control for retrofitting in engine-powered vehicles. The cruise control comprises a cruise control unit (1), a first electrical connecting cable (18) for connecting the cruise control unit (1) to the position sensor in the accelerator of the vehicle, and a second connecting cable (19) for connecting the cruise control unit (1) to the engine computer of the vehicle. The cruise control is adapted to communicate via at least one data communication bus (29, 30, 34) in the vehicle.

Description

A RETROFITTABLE CRUISE CONTROL
The present invention relates to a cruise control for engine- powered vehicles such as passenger cars and goods vans. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cruise control adapted for retrofitting in motor vehicles not prepared for retrofitting of a cruise control.
Many of the big automobile manufacturers have a very limited interest in accessory equipment for motor vehicles, popularly called the aftermarket, for retrofitting in their vehicles after delivery. For competition reasons their focus is on minimizing the vehicle manufacturing price.
If, for example, the customer wants a cruise control in his car, the manufacturer will then, in connection with the manufacture, equip the car with wiring that enables an operating device mounted in the cabin of the car to be connected to the engine computer of the car, which implements the cruise control function.
If the car is not ordered with the cruise control, the car will be equipped with reduced wiring for cost reasons, the wiring necessary for connecting the operating device to the engine computer being omitted to save costs.
Subsequent implementation of a cruise control function is thus made impossible or at best rendered difficult, as for example the necessary wiring first has to be drawn from the cabin, where the operating device is placed, to the engine computer, which is typically located in the engine compartment.
Danish utility model DK BR 2004 00263 describes a cruise control which fundamentally overcomes these problems.
Although this prior-art cruise control has gained high popularity for retrofitting in a large number of vehicles, it still has several disadvantages. A first disadvantage is the fitting time, which is 40-45 minutes despite the fact that most of the fitting is done by means of plug connections. Another disadvantage is that it is not possible to coordinate the function of the cruise control with, especially, safety equipment in the car such as ESP, ABS and airbag. The cruise control will therefore continue to function in situations in which the car airbag may have been released without the driver having stepped on the brake pedal beforehand, which would otherwise tell the cruise control to stop maintaining speed. The same will apply in situations where the ESP of the car comes into function to stabilise the car without the driver having stepped on the brake or the clutch. A third disadvantage is the situation where the car is put into neutral with the cruise control activated, for example in connection with an accident or inadvertently due to the movement of persons in the car. In such case the cruise control might overrev the engine and destroy it.
DE-A-10009170 describes a cruise control which communicates via the databus of the vehicle, such as a CAN bus. The publication does not concern itself with retrofitting, but deals with compensation for the speedometer deviation.
In connection with data buses in vehicles, cruise control solutions are also known in which the engine computer is programmed with a cruise control function by the factory. This cruise control function is activated when an operating member is connected to the bus. The disadvantage of this solution is that it can only be used for certain cars, viz., those cars for which the manufacturer has opted in advance to enter the cruise control function in the program of the engine computer. The object of the present invention is to overcome these and other disadvantages of the prior art. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a cruise control in which the cruise control comprises a cruise control unit adapted for insertion between the position sensor in the accelerator of the vehicle and the engine computer of the vehicle, a first electrical connecting cable for connecting the cruise control unit to the position sensor in the accelerator of the vehicle, and a second connecting cable for connecting the cruise control unit to the engine computer of the vehicle, the cruise control unit being characterized in that it is adapted to communicate via at least one data communication bus in the vehicle. Adaptation of the cruise control for communication via the existing databus in the vehicle allows for easier and a more fail-safe connection of the cruise control, which considerably reduces the necessary working time for retrofitting the cruise control in a vehicle. At the same time, the cruise control unit of the cruise control becomes able to monitor and take account of signals on the data communication bus that indicate activation of safety equipment or procedures on which the continued activation of the cruise control might have a negative effect. Automatic deactivation of the cruise control in such cases with the resulting safety enhancement thus becomes possible. As the cruise control unit transmits a signal via the databus, which signal, vis-a-vis the engine computer of the vehicle, emulates a specific depression of the accelerator pedal - which deviates from the actual depression - instead of the actual signal from the accelerator pedal, retrofitting becomes possible quite independently of the programming of the engine computer, that is, whether or not it is pre-programmed with a cruise control function. This makes it possible to retrofit a cruise control in vehicles for which the manufacturer does not offer retrofitting of a cruise control option by simple activation of the original set-up of the car. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cruise control is adapted so that communication with the cruise control unit via the data communication bus is performed as one-way communication from the data communication bus to the cruise control unit. Thereby, the possibility mentioned above that the cruise control unit of the cruise control can monitor and take account of signals on the data communication bus becomes safe, in that the cruise control unit does not itself transmit signals that might activate safety equipment or procedures, for example, due to faulty fitting.
Notwithstanding this, it is preferred in a further embodiment of the invention that the cruise control also comprises an operating member, and that the communication between the operating member and the cruise control unit is performed via the data communication bus. This saves further connections and thereby fitting time. Therefore, according to yet a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cruise control is adapted so that the communication with the operating member via the data communication bus is performed as one-way communication from the operating member to the data communication bus. This is advantageous as it is fully compatible with the one-way communication to the cruise control unit.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the data communication bus is a CAN bus and/or a VAN bus. This allows the use of the very same cruise control unit for a large number of different makes and models of vehicles, as these buses have gained widespread application. The only requirements are cables with suitable connectors and programming of the cruise control unit that can be made on site in connection with fitting into a vehicle.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the cruise control according to the invention, the communication from the operating member to the cruise control unit is performed via the VAN bus. It is advantageous to use the VAN bus rather than the CAN bus as this bus only communicates information that does not relate to any safety equipment in the vehicle. According to yet another embodiment of the cruise control according to the invention, the operating member comprises plugs adapted for plug connection with existing sockets in the vehicle. Modern vehicles with a CAN bus and/or a VAN bus will normally be prepared with sockets for plugging in suitable operating members intended for, for example, operation of factory-fitted cruise controls. Therefore, in the cases relevant to the present invention, where in fact no factory-fitted cruise control exists, they will conveniently be available at the retrofitting of a cruise control.
The invention will now be described by means of non-limiting examples of embodiments thereof and with reference to the drawing, in which
Fig. 1 shows a cruise control unit for use in the cruise control according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a suitable cable bundle comprising cables for use in a cruise control according to the invention,
Fig. 3 shows an operating member according to a preferred embodiment of the cruise control according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a programming device for use in on-site programming of a retrofitted cruise control according to the invention,
Fig. 5 shows the connection of cables to the cruise control unit in the cruise control according to the invention, and
Fig. 6 shows an example of the retrofitting of a cruise control according to the invention below the steering-wheel of a vehicle.
In a preferred embodiment, the cruise control according to the invention only comprises the four parts shown in Figs. 1 to 4, respectively, that is, a cruise control unit 1 as shown in Fig. 1, a prefabricated cable bundle as shown in Fig. 2, an operating member 35 as shown in Fig. 3 and a programming unit as shown in Fig. 4. These parts will be described in more detail below.
Fig. 1 thus more specifically shows a cruise control unit 1, which is provided with suitable multisockets 8, 9, 10 for connection of cables 11, 12, 13 with suitable complementary plugs, 14, 15, 16, respectively. Plugs 14, 15, 16 and cables 11, 12, 13 are shown in other Figures, best in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. The cruise control unit 1 is adapted for insertion between the position sensor in the accelerator pedal of the vehicle and the engine computer of the vehicle, and in dependency of the speed signal of the vehicle it can emulate a particular depression of the accelerator pedal - which deviates from the actual depression - vis-a-vis the engine computer of the vehicle as described in the Danish utility model DK BR 2004 00263. This is done by pulling apart an existing plug connection in the cable between the position sensor and the engine computer in the vehicle and by inserting corresponding connectors 16 and 17 between the two existing connecting parts so that the signal from the position sensor is transmitted via the cable 18 connected to the plug 16 to the cruise control unit 1, which returns an emulated signal via the cable 19 connected to the socket 17, the emulated signal thus being transmitted to the engine computer instead of the actual signal from the position sensor.
The cables 11, 12, 13 are included in a pre-fabricated cable bundle comprising all the cables and connectors necessary for retrofitting the cruise control in a vehicle. The cable bundle thus also includes cables and connectors for connection to one or more of the data communication buses of the vehicle. The pre-fabricated cable bundle shown in Fig. 1 comprises cables and connectors allowing for connection of the cruise control unit 1 to both a VAN bus and a CAN bus. The connectors 20, 21 mounted on respective cables 22, 23 thus allow connection to a CAN bus. Correspondingly, the connectors 24, 25 mounted on respective cables 26, 27 allow connection to a VAN bus.
The actual connection is performed in the same way as in relation to the accelerator mentioned above, that is, by pulling apart an existing plug connection and inserting the two cables in-between. This is best seen in Fig. 6, where the plug 28 of the existing CAN bus cable 29 has been pulled out of the socket 30 of a communication box 31 below the steering-wheel 32 in the vehicle. Instead, the plug 20 on the cable 22 is plugged into the socket 30 in the communication box, and the plug 28 is instead plugged into the corresponding socket 21 on the other cable 23. The communication on the bus is thereby transmitted to the cruise control unit 1, which can thus monitor the communication on the CAN bus.
Correspondingly, the plug 33 on the VAN bus cable 34 has been pulled out of a socket, not shown, in the communication box 31, into which the plug 24 on the cable 26 is plugged instead. The plug 33 is instead plugged into the corresponding socket 25 on the cable 27 so that the communication on the VAN bus can be read by the cruise control unit 1. The communication box handles a large number of communications, including communications from various operating members, such as switches for flashing indicators, horn, windscreen wipers, lights, etc. Whether the car has been manufactured with a cruise control or one has to be retrofitted, a plug-in possibility has been provided in connection with the driver's seat, and particularly near the steering-wheel, for an operating member for a cruise control, typically a stem control with the switches or buttons necessary for operating the cruise control. If no cruise control was fitted into the vehicle during manufacture, this plug-in possibility will be vacant for plugging in a suitable operating member 35 for the cruise control, the operating member according to a preferred embodiment, of course, being provided with a suitable plug 36 as shown in Fig. 3. As soon as this operating member 35 has been plugged in, it will be able to communicate via the databus with the retrofitted cruise control unit 1, partly via the existing part of the databus cables, partly via one of the retrofitted databus cables 22, 26, which are connected to the existing databus cables in the vehicle, not shown. The cruise control unit may thus be told via the databus which of the switches 37, 38 on the operating member 35 has been actuated. If the vehicle does not have the desired plug-in possibility provided by the factory, the operating member has to be fitted in another manner and, for example, be connected to the databus via a separate cable connection.
As mentioned above, a preferred embodiment of the invention also includes the programming unit 39 shown in Fig. 4. The programming unit 39 has an operating part in the form of a switch 40. After fitting, the operating part is connected to the cruise control unit 1 via the cable 13 and the plug 16, which complements the socket 10 on the cruise control unit 1 as illustrated in Fig. 5. Then, by repeatedly pressing the switch 40, a suitable program or settings are selected in connection with the programming of the cruise control unit 1 so that the cruise control can be used together with the relevant car model in which the cruise control has been retrofitted. This may be done on site in connection with the retrofitting of the cruise control. After completion of the programming, the programming unit 39 is removed from the socket 10 in the cruise control unit 1, and the retrofitted cruise control is ready for use.
The present invention provides an improved cruise control for retrofitting, which overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above. In addition to the reduced risk of errors, particular emphasis should be given to the reduction in the time used for fitting the cruise control- Preliminary experiments have shown that the fitting time for retrofitting the cruise control according to the invention is substantially reduced compared with prior art according to Danish utility model DK BR 2004 00263, for which the fitting time is typically 40-45 minutes, viz. to a third or fourth thereof, that is, about 10-15 minutes.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, and the person skilled in the art will understand that there will be a large number of variations possible for the individual parts without deviating from the invention as defined in the claims. As an example, cables and connectors, including those of the operating member, will depend on the manufacturer, make and model of the vehicle into which the cruise control is to be fitted. There may also be differences depending on whether the vehicle has implemented one of or both the VAN and CAN databuses, and the person skilled in the art will also be able to modify the invention for other databuses in vehicles. Moreover, the person skilled in the art will understand that the communication box is only an example, and that it may be designed in innumerable ways or even be entirely omitted. The connections shown are thus only examples.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S
1. A cruise control for retrofitting in engine-powered vehicles not prepared for retrofitting of a cruise control, the cruise control comprising a cruise control unit (1) adapted for insertion between the position sensor in the accelerator of the vehicle and the engine computer of the vehicle for emulating any specific depression of the accelerator, a first electrical connecting cable (18) for connecting the cruise control unit (1) to the position sensor in the accelerator of the vehicle, and a second connecting cable (19) for connecting the cruise control unit (1) to the engine computer of the vehicle, characterized in that the cruise control unit (1) is adapted to communicate via at least one data communication bus (29, 30, 34) in the vehicle.
2. A cruise control according to claim 1, characterized in that it is adapted so that communication with the cruise control unit (1) via the data communication bus (29, 30, 24) is performed as oneway communication from the data communication bus (29, 30, 34) to the cruise control unit (1).
3. A cruise control according to claim I or 2, cha racterized in that it further comprises an operating member (35), and that the communication between the operating member (35) and the cruise control unit (1) is performed via the data communication bus (30).
4. A cruise control according to claim 3, characterized in that it is designed so that the communication with the cruise control unit (1) via the data communication bus is performed as one-way communication from the operating member (35) to the data communication bus.
5. A cruise control according to any one of the preceding claims, cha racterized in that the data communication bus (29, 30, 34) is a CAN bus and/or a VAN bus.
6. A cruise control according to claim 5, characterized in that the communication from the operating member (35) to the cruise control unit (1) is performed via the VAN bus.
7. A cruise control according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the operating member (35) comprises plugs (36) adapted for plug connection with existing sockets in the vehicle.
PCT/DK2006/050066 2005-11-10 2006-11-10 A retrofittable cruise control WO2007054104A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06805603A EP1951540A1 (en) 2005-11-10 2006-11-10 A retrofittable cruise control

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK200501560A DK176226B1 (en) 2005-11-10 2005-11-10 Cruise control for e.g. passenger car, has cable connecting control unit to position sensor and another cable connecting control unit to engine computer, where control unit is adapted to communicate via data buses in vehicle
DKPA200501560 2005-11-10

Publications (1)

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WO2007054104A1 true WO2007054104A1 (en) 2007-05-18

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PCT/DK2006/050066 WO2007054104A1 (en) 2005-11-10 2006-11-10 A retrofittable cruise control

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EP (1) EP1951540A1 (en)
DK (1) DK176226B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007054104A1 (en)

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EP2457792A1 (en) 2010-11-25 2012-05-30 Sojadis Equipement Piloting device and vehicle equipped with such a device
WO2013128084A1 (en) 2012-03-02 2013-09-06 Sojadis Equipement Control device and vehicle equipped with such a device
WO2014045020A1 (en) * 2012-09-19 2014-03-27 Autokontrol Limited An inspection interface unit
FR3008370A1 (en) * 2013-07-11 2015-01-16 Noel Robert FUSE OF CONFORMITY
WO2015099621A1 (en) * 2013-12-27 2015-07-02 Otokar Otomotiv Ve Savunma Sanayi Anonim Sirketi An automatic speed control adapter
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EP2457792A1 (en) 2010-11-25 2012-05-30 Sojadis Equipement Piloting device and vehicle equipped with such a device
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WO2013128084A1 (en) 2012-03-02 2013-09-06 Sojadis Equipement Control device and vehicle equipped with such a device
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FR3008370A1 (en) * 2013-07-11 2015-01-16 Noel Robert FUSE OF CONFORMITY
WO2015080680A3 (en) * 2013-11-27 2015-07-23 Otokar Otomotiv Ve Savunma Sanayi Anonim Sirketi A can adapter
WO2015099621A1 (en) * 2013-12-27 2015-07-02 Otokar Otomotiv Ve Savunma Sanayi Anonim Sirketi An automatic speed control adapter
EP3299268A1 (en) * 2016-09-27 2018-03-28 STG Consulting Co., Limited Cruise control system for electric mobility scooter and electric mobility scooter therewith
US10384558B2 (en) 2016-09-27 2019-08-20 STG Consulting Co., Ltd. Cruise control system for electrical mobility scooter and electrical mobility scooter therewith

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