Patent ID: 6574543
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B60K,B60W,F16H

Abstract:
A cruise control device used in a vehicle to maintain a vehicle speed at a predetermined vehicle speed, the vehicle being provided with an automatic transmission connected to an engine, and a transmission controller performing gear shift of the automatic transmission in response to a target throttle opening and a vehicle speed, the cruise control device comprising:a sensor which detects the vehicle speed; a sensor which detects a gear ratio of the automatic transmission; and a programmable controller programmed to: calculate a target transmission output torque of the automatic transmission which causes the vehicle speed to coincide with the predetermined vehicle speed; calculate a target engine output torque by using the target transmission output torque and the gear ratio; determine whether the target engine output torque is under a predetermined condition wherein a present engine output torque is saturated; limit the target transmission output torque if the engine is under the predetermined condition; control the output torque of the engine based on a limited target transmission output torque; calculate the target throttle opening based on the limited target transmission output torque; and output the sum of the target throttle opening value and a predetermined correction value as a throttle opening command value to the transmission controller.