Patent ID: 6347273
Filing Date: 2002-02-12
Classification: B60K,B60W

Abstract:
A method to control the speed of a vehicle by means of a cruise control device, which communicates with at least one detector for scanning a field in front of the vehicle, the cruise control device being arranged to assume at least the following control states:a first state, in which the speed of the vehicle (Vcurr) is controlled with regard to a selected constant speed (Vdet), a second state, in which the speed of the vehicle (Vcurr) is controlled with regard to a speed at which a distance (ds) to at least one nearest vehicle in front is maintained substantially constant, third state, in which the speed of the vehicle (Vcurr) is maintained substantially constant, the cruise control further being arranged to change from said first state to said second state when a vehicle in front is detected in the sensing field of the detector, wherein the cruise control assumes the third state from said second state when the vehicle in front departs from the sensing field of the detector, and that the cruise control device remains in the third state until: the driver takes over the control of the speed of the vehicle, or the detector detects that the vehicle in front is within the sensing field of the detector whereby the cruise control device assumes the second state from the third state.