Patent ID: 11858346
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL ENGINE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPANY, LLC
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B  F

Claim 10:
11. A method, implementable in a subject vehicle equipped with adaptive cruise control technology, for maintaining a substantially constant following distance relative to a preceding target vehicle comprising:
(a) providing a diesel engine comprising a plurality of fuel injectors;
(b) providing an electronic control unit;
(c) providing a first set of sensors located throughout the subject vehicle, which are communicatively and operatively connected to the electronic control unit, wherein said sensors are capable of detecting following distance relative to the target vehicle and the speed of the target vehicle;
(d) providing a second set of sensors located throughout the subject vehicle, which are communicatively and operatively connected to the electronic control unit, wherein said sensors are capable of detecting slope of the surface on which the subject vehicle is travelling; and
(e) activating adaptive cruise control in the subject vehicle;
wherein, when the subject vehicle encounters a change in slope of the surface on which it is travelling, the second set of sensors transmits a signal to the electronic control unit communicating data concerning the change in slope of the surface;
wherein the electronic control unit, based on the data concerning change in slope received from the second set of sensors, calculates a new desired torque value necessary to maintain substantially constant following distance relative to a target vehicle; and
wherein the electronic control unit outputs a command signal to adjust the volume of fuel injected into the engine's cylinders to a volume that corresponds to the new desired torque value.