US3712126A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle speed controller
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1970-11-23
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1990-11-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle in accordance with a predetermined schedule by manipulating the vehicle''s accelerator and brake pedals. A program generator generates a reference signal that is proportional to the desired speed of the vehicle during the predetermined schedule. The reference signal is compared with a feedback signal that is proportional to the actual speed of the vehicle by a signal generating network which generates a control signal in accordance with the difference between the reference and feedback signals. An accelerator pedal control network that includes a DC motor which is driven by uniform high voltage pulses manipulates the accelerator pedal in accordance with the control signal. A brake pedal control network that includes a pneumatic actuator and an electrical to pressure transducer manipulates the brake pedal in accordance with the control signal. The operativeness of the brake pedal control network and the accelerator pedal control network and the amplification of the signal generating network are controlled by the program generator in accordance with the predetermined schedule.
Inventors
- 👤 R Campbell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/18; B60W30/00; B60W30/18; B60W30/1819
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle, means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle, means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals, a first amplifier for amplifying the error signal by a first variable amplification factor, a second amplifier for amplifying the time rate of change of the error signal by a second variable amplification factor, control signal generating means for generating a control signal that is proportional to the sum of the amplified error signal and the amplified time rate of change of the error signal, means for varying the variable amplification factors of the amplifiers according to a predetermined schedule, brake pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, accelerator pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle, means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle, means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals, a first amplifier for amplifying the error signal by a first variable amplification factor, a second amplifier for amplifying the time rate of change of the error signal by a second variable amplification factor, control signal generating means for generating a control signal that is proportional to the sum of the amplified error signal and the amplified time rate of change of the error signal, means for varying the variable amplification factors of the amplifiers according to a predetermined schedule, brake pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, accelerator pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
335 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle; means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle; means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals; brake pedal control means responsive to the error signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the error signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed; accelerator pedal control means responsive to the error signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the error signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal control means including means responsive to the error signal for generating a variable frequency train of uniform pulses having a first polarity when the desired vehicle speed exceeds the actual vehicle speed and a second polarity when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the frequency of the pulse train being proportional to the difference between the desired and the actual vehicle speeds, and a DC motor that is responsive to the pulse train and drivably coupled to the accelerator pedal effective to incrementally move the accelerator pedal as each pulse is applied to the motor, thereby moving the accelerator pedal in accordance with the polarity and the frequency of the pulsEs; and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
335 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle; means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle; means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals; brake pedal control means responsive to the error signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the error signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed; accelerator pedal control means responsive to the error signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the error signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal control means including means responsive to the error signal for generating a variable frequency train of uniform pulses having a first polarity when the desired vehicle speed exceeds the actual vehicle speed and a second polarity when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the frequency of the pulse train being proportional to the difference between the desired and the actual vehicle speeds, and a DC motor that is responsive to the pulse train and drivably coupled to the accelerator pedal effective to incrementally move the accelerator pedal as each pulse is applied to the motor, thereby moving the accelerator pedal in accordance with the polarity and the frequency of the pulsEs; and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
415 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle; means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle; means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals; a first amplifier for amplifying the error signal by a first variable amplification factor; a second amplifier for amplifying the time rate of change of the error signal by a second variable amplification factor; control signal generating means for generating a control signal that is proportional to the sum of the amplified error signal and the amplified time rate of change of the error signal; means for varying the variable amplification factors of the amplifiers according to a predetermined schedule; brake pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed; accelerator pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal control means including means responsive to the control signal for generating a variable frequency train of uniform pulses having a first polarity when the desired vehicle speed exceeds the actual vehicle speed and a second polarity when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the frequency of the pulse train being proportional to the difference between the desired and the actual vehicle speeds, and a DC motor that is responsive to the pulse train and drivably coupled to the accelerator pedal effective to incrementally move the accelerator pedal as each pulse is applied to the motor, thereby moving the accelerator pedal in accordance with the polarity and the frequency of the pulses; and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
415 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle; means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle; means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals; a first amplifier for amplifying the error signal by a first variable amplification factor; a second amplifier for amplifying the time rate of change of the error signal by a second variable amplification factor; control signal generating means for generating a control signal that is proportional to the sum of the amplified error signal and the amplified time rate of change of the error signal; means for varying the variable amplification factors of the amplifiers according to a predetermined schedule; brake pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed; accelerator pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal control means including means responsive to the control signal for generating a variable frequency train of uniform pulses having a first polarity when the desired vehicle speed exceeds the actual vehicle speed and a second polarity when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the frequency of the pulse train being proportional to the difference between the desired and the actual vehicle speeds, and a DC motor that is responsive to the pulse train and drivably coupled to the accelerator pedal effective to incrementally move the accelerator pedal as each pulse is applied to the motor, thereby moving the accelerator pedal in accordance with the polarity and the frequency of the pulses; and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
441 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle; means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle; means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals; a first amplifier for amplifying the error signal by a first variable amplification factor; a second amplifier for amplifying the time rate of change of the error signal by a second variable amplification factor; control signal generating means for generating a control signal that is proportional to the sum of the amplified error signal and the amplified time rate of change of the error signal; means for varying the variable amplification factors of the amplifiers accordIng to a predetermined schedule; brake pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the brake pedal control means including means for integrating the control signal and means for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the integrated control signal; accelerator pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal control means including means responsive to the control signal for generating a variable frequency train of uniform pulses having a first polarity when the desired vehicle speed exceeds the actual vehicle speed and a second polarity when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the frequency of the pulse train being proportional to the difference between the desired and the actual vehicle speeds, and a DC motor that is responsive to the pulse train and drivably coupled to the accelerator pedal effective to incrementally move the accelerator pedal as each pulse is applied to the motor, thereby moving the accelerator pedal in accordance with the polarity and the frequency of the pulses; and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
441 words
Apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle having accelerator and brake pedals comprising, in combination, means for generating a reference signal that is indicative of a desired speed of the vehicle; means for generating a feedback signal that is determined by the actual speed of the vehicle; means responsive to the reference and the feedback signals for generating an error signal that is determined by the difference between the reference and the feedback signals; a first amplifier for amplifying the error signal by a first variable amplification factor; a second amplifier for amplifying the time rate of change of the error signal by a second variable amplification factor; control signal generating means for generating a control signal that is proportional to the sum of the amplified error signal and the amplified time rate of change of the error signal; means for varying the variable amplification factors of the amplifiers accordIng to a predetermined schedule; brake pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to decrease the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the brake pedal control means including means for integrating the control signal and means for operating the brake pedal in accordance with the integrated control signal; accelerator pedal control means responsive to the control signal for operating the accelerator pedal in accordance with the control signal effective to increase the vehicle speed when the actual vehicle speed is less than the desired vehicle speed, the accelerator pedal control means including means responsive to the control signal for generating a variable frequency train of uniform pulses having a first polarity when the desired vehicle speed exceeds the actual vehicle speed and a second polarity when the actual vehicle speed exceeds the desired vehicle speed, the frequency of the pulse train being proportional to the difference between the desired and the actual vehicle speeds, and a DC motor that is responsive to the pulse train and drivably coupled to the accelerator pedal effective to incrementally move the accelerator pedal as each pulse is applied to the motor, thereby moving the accelerator pedal in accordance with the polarity and the frequency of the pulses; and means for controlling the operativeness of the brake pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means according to a certain schedule whereby the brake pedal control means may be made inoperative when increasing the vehicle speed through use of the accelerator pedal control means and the accelerator pedal control means may be made inoperative when decreasing the vehicle speed through use of the brake pedal control means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |