Patent Description:
It is known to provide vehicles with systems to automatically control the speed of the vehicle. Such systems may be known as cruise control systems. More recently such systems include more advanced functionality and may be referred to as adaptive cruise control systems. Such adaptive cruise control systems may control the speed of vehicles based on sensor inputs providing information on the vehicles surroundings. For example, the adaptive cruise control system may react to sensors indicating that there is a slower-moving vehicle ahead of the vehicle by automatically reducing the vehicle's speed. Similarly, the adaptive cruise control system may control the vehicle speed to maintain a safe following distance to the vehicle ahead. Then, if the adaptive cruise control system detects that the slower moving vehicle is no longer present, it may automatically raise the vehicle speed back up to the originally set cruise control speed.

Adaptive cruise control systems may also use the speed limit for the vehicle's location to control the speed of the vehicle. This may be referred to as speed limit adaption. The adaptive cruise control system may obtain speed limit information for the location of the vehicle. Such speed limit information may be acquired, for example, through image capture and image analysis of speed limit signs, or through the use of GPS. The adaptive cruise control system may then set the vehicle speed to the speed limit.

Some adaptive cruise control systems may provide the option of setting the vehicle speed to the speed limit adjusted by a user-controlled offset to the speed limit. As such, the user may choose for the adaptive cruise control system to set the vehicle speed to be above or below the speed limit by a certain amount. The offset may apply, for example, until there is a change in the speed limit, or the user changes or removes it.

<CIT> discloses a method for adapting the velocity of a vehicle during driving of the vehicle along a route of travel. The method comprises the step of controlling (S3) the vehicle velocity so that a velocity associated with said target velocity is permitted to be higher than the target velocity by a given offset. For example, a vehicle can be permitted to roll up to a higher velocity than the target velocity on a downhill stretch in order to save fuel. The limit, i.e. said offset, is set in particular for the permissible variation, particularly the variation up toward a higher velocity, in dependence upon velocity-limiting factors.

Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide an automatic speed control system, a method for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle, a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions, and a vehicle as claimed in the appended claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an automatic speed control system for a vehicle, the automatic speed control system comprising one or more controllers, the automatic speed control system configured to: obtain an initial speed limit, wherein the initial speed limit is the speed limit at a location of the vehicle; receive a signal identifying a speed limit offset; and set the speed of the vehicle to the initial speed limit combined with the offset; obtain an updated speed limit; set the speed of the vehicle to the updated speed limit; and subsequently, obtain a further speed limit; and if at least one criterion is met, set the speed of the vehicle to the further speed limit combined with the offset. This reduces user inconvenience in reapplying the speed limit offset.

Optionally there may be provided an automatic speed control system wherein the one or more controllers may comprise speed limit obtaining means to obtain the speed limit at the location of the vehicle; input means to receive the signal; speed limit adjusting means to adjust the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit combined with the offset, in response to the signal, and after a change in speed limit where the at least one criterion is met; and speed limit analysing means to analyse the speed limit for at least one change thereto and to analyse an updated speed limit in relation to the at least one criterion.

An automatic speed control system as described above wherein the system speed limit obtaining means and the input means comprises an electronic processor having at least one electrical input for receiving signals indicative of the speed limit and indicative of the speed limit offset, and an electronic memory device electrically coupled to the electronic processor and having instructions stored thereon; and wherein the speed limit analysing means and speed limit adjusting means to adjust the speed of the vehicle comprise the processor being configured access the memory device and execute the instructions stored therein such that it is operable to adjust the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit combined with the offset in response to the signal, and after a change in speed limit where the at least one criterion is met, and to analyse the speed limit for at least one change thereto and to analyse an updated speed limit in relation to the at least one criterion.

Optionally, the one or more controllers may comprise: speed limit obtaining means to obtain the speed limit at the location of the vehicle; input means to receive the signal; speed limit adjusting means to adjust the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit combined with the offset, in response to the signal, and after a change in speed limit where the at least one criterion is met; speed limit analysing means to analyse the speed limit for at least one change thereto and to analyse an updated speed limit in relation to the at least one criterion.

In an embodiment, the at least one criterion relates to a comparison of the initial speed limit and the further speed limit. The at least one criterion may be that the initial speed limit is equal to the further speed limit. In this way, the invention recognises that where speed limit has reverted to the original speed limit, the user would choose to have the same offset applied.

Optionally, the at least one criterion may relate to the distance for which the updated speed limit was applicable. The at least one criterion may specify that the distance for which the updated speed limit was applicable must be below a distance threshold. The distance threshold may be in the range <NUM> metres to <NUM> metres. In an embodiment, the distance threshold is <NUM> metres. The distance threshold may be adjustable by the user. In this way, the change in speed limit may be identified as being temporary, such that the user would choose to have the same offset applied when the temporary speed limit ends.

In an embodiment, the at least one criterion relates to the magnitude of the offset. The at least one criterion may include that the magnitude of the offset is less than a threshold value. The threshold value may be between <NUM> kilometres per hour to <NUM> kilometres per hour. In an embodiment, the threshold value is <NUM> kilometres per hour. The threshold value may be a percentage of the speed limit, for example, <NUM>% of the speed limit or <NUM>% of the speed limit. The threshold value may be user-configurable. In this way, an offset that is too large or too small would not be reapplied automatically.

Optionally, the automatic speed control system may comprise a camera and wherein the one or more controllers are configured to carry out image processing, such that the one or more controllers are configured to obtain a speed limit by identifying the speed limit from an image, captured by the camera, of speed limit signage for the location of the vehicle via image processing. This is an efficient manner of obtaining speed limit information.

In an embodiment, the automatic speed control system is configured to receive a signal to adjust the updated speed of the vehicle by a second offset. In this way, the user may have their chosen offset in effect.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle, comprising obtaining an initial speed limit, wherein the initial speed limit is the speed limit at a location of the vehicle; receiving a signal to adjust the speed of the vehicle by an offset; and setting the speed of the vehicle to the initial speed limit combined with the offset; obtaining an updated speed limit; setting the speed of the vehicle to the updated speed limit; and subsequently, obtaining a further speed limit; and if at least one criterion is met, setting the speed of the vehicle to the further speed limit combined with the offset. Such a method allows a user to avoid the inconvenience of manually reapplying the offset.

In an embodiment, the method comprises that the at least one criterion relates to a comparison of the initial speed limit and the further speed limit. The at least one criterion may be that the initial speed limit is equal to the further speed limit.

Optionally, the method may comprise that the at least one criterion relates to the distance travelled at the updated speed limit. The at least one criterion may specify that the distance for which the updated speed limit was applicable must be below a distance threshold. The distance threshold may be between <NUM> metres and <NUM> metres. In an embodiment, the distance threshold is <NUM> metres.

In an embodiment, the method comprises that the at least one criterion relates to the magnitude of the offset. The at least one criterion may include that the magnitude of the offset is less than a threshold value. The threshold value may be between <NUM> kilometres per hour and <NUM> kilometres per hour. In an embodiment, the threshold value may be <NUM> kilometres per hour.

Optionally, the method may comprise wherein obtaining a speed limit comprises capturing an image of speed limit signage for the location of the vehicle and identifying the speed limit therefrom via image processing.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause performance of the method for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising an automatic speed control system.

Within the scope of this invention it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination within the scope of the claims. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination within the scope of the, unless such features are incompatible.

The present invention relates to an automatic speed control system, a method for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle, and a vehicle. The automatic speed control system may form part of, or may be separate but complimentary to, an adaptive cruise control (ACC) system in a vehicle. An ACC system adapts the vehicle's speed to the vehicle's environment, for example the presence and speed of another vehicle ahead of the vehicle in question, or the speed limit in force at the vehicle's location.

An ACC system that is adapted to control a vehicle's speed based on the applicable speed limit may allow a user to set an offset to be applied to the speed limit when setting the vehicle's speed. The user may apply an offset above or below the speed limit. The user may apply an offset within a certain threshold of the speed limit. In this way, the ACC system will not allow the user to set a vehicle speed significantly higher or lower than the speed limit.

With reference to <FIG>, there is shown an automatic speed control system <NUM> for a vehicle. The automatic speed control system <NUM> comprises speed limit obtaining means <NUM>, input means <NUM>, speed adjusting means <NUM>, and speed limit analysing means <NUM>. The speed limit obtaining means <NUM> obtain the speed limit at the location of the vehicle. The input means <NUM> receive a signal identifying a speed limit offset. The speed adjusting means <NUM> adjust the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit combined with the offset, in response to the signal. The speed adjusting means <NUM> also adjust the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit combined with the offset after a change in speed limit where the at least one criterion is met. The speed limit analysing means <NUM> analyse the speed limit for a change thereto and analyse the changed speed limit in relation to at least one criterion.

The speed limit obtaining means <NUM>, input means <NUM>, speed limit analysing means <NUM>, and speed adjusting means <NUM> may be implemented by one or more controllers. The one or more controllers may be implemented by a processor. The one or more controllers may be configured to obtain an initial speed limit, wherein the initial speed limit is the speed limit at a location of the vehicle. The one or more controllers may be configured to receive a signal identifying a speed limit offset. The one or more controllers may be configured to set the speed of the vehicle to the initial speed limit combined with the offset. The one or more controllers may be configured to obtain an updated speed limit. The one or more controllers may be configured to set the speed of the vehicle to the updated speed limit. The one or more controllers may be configured to obtain a further speed limit; and if at least one criterion is met, set the speed of the vehicle to the further speed limit combined with the offset.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a flowchart illustrating a method for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle, indicated generally by the reference number <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the invention. The method <NUM> begins at <NUM> by obtaining an initial speed limit, wherein the initial speed limit is the speed limit at a location of the vehicle. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> comprises receiving a signal to adjust the speed of the vehicle by an offset. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> comprises setting the speed of the vehicle to the initial speed limit combined with the offset. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> comprises obtaining an updated speed limit. At <NUM>, the method <NUM> comprises setting the speed of the vehicle to the updated speed limit. The updated speed limit may be referred to as a temporary speed limit or an interim speed limit. At <NUM>, the method comprises obtaining a further speed limit. At <NUM>, the method comprises checking for a criterion. In <NUM>, the method <NUM> comprises setting the speed of the vehicle to the further speed limit combined with the offset, if the criterion has been met.

The automatic speed control system <NUM> may obtain the speed limit for the location of the vehicle in a number of ways. In a first example, systems on board the vehicle in question may capture an image of the speed limit signage for the location of the vehicle, and carry out image processing on the images to identify the speed limit illustrated in the signage. In another example, the speed limit for the location may be received from a remote transmitter, may be obtained from a navigation system, or may be looked-up based on a GPS-indication of the vehicle's location. The automatic speed control system <NUM> may obtain the speed limit for the location of the vehicle according to known methods used in adapted cruise control systems, and will not be discussed further herein.

The automatic speed control system <NUM> may receive the signal indicating the desired offset via a user interface of the vehicle. Such a user interface may include a voice interface, touchscreen, gesture recognition, a keypad or other arrangement of keys or buttons, and the like.

Once the desired offset has been obtained, the automatic speed control system <NUM> controls the speed of the vehicle to be that of the speed limit combined with the offset. For example, if the speed limit was <NUM> kmph, with an offset of +<NUM> kmph, the automatic speed control system <NUM> would control the speed of the vehicle to be <NUM> kmph. In a further example, if the speed limit was <NUM> kmph, and the offset was -<NUM> kmph, the automatic speed control system <NUM> would control the speed of the vehicle to be <NUM> kmph. The automatic speed control system <NUM> may control the speed of the vehicle according to any suitable method, including those known methods used in cruise control and adapted cruise control systems, and will not be discussed further herein.

When the automatic speed control system <NUM> detects a change in the speed limit, the speed of the vehicle is adjusted accordingly. If the user wishes to apply the offset again, he or she must enter the desired offset again via the user interface.

In some circumstances, the change in speed limit may be temporary and the speed limit returns to the previous speed limit after a reasonably short distance. Such temporary speed limits may be due, for example, to a junction, roadworks, traffic calming measures or the like. It such cases the user must reapply the desired offset after this temporary speed limit change. This is inconvenient for the user. The present invention recognises certain circumstances wherein this user inconvenience can be avoided.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown a block diagram of factors that may be considered when checking the criterion at <NUM> in the method <NUM> shown in <FIG>. These circumstances may relate to the relationship between the initial speed limit at which the offset was applied, and the further speed limit after the interim speed limit. The circumstances may relate to the distance for which the interim speed limit was applicable. <FIG> shows in an embodiment, that the criterion checking block <NUM> of method <NUM> comprises, at <NUM>, comparing the initial speed limit with the further speed limit; and at <NUM>, determining the distance for which the interim speed limit was applicable. One criterion for re-implementing the previous offset, according to block <NUM> of the method <NUM>, may be that the initial speed limit and the further speed limit are equal. Another criterion may be that the distance for which the updated speed limit was applicable is below a distance threshold. The distance threshold may be between <NUM> metres and <NUM> metres, and in an example, the distance threshold is <NUM> metres. The distance threshold may be configurable, at initialisation of the system, and/or by the user.

Referring now to <FIG>, there is shown an alternative block diagram of factors that may be considered when checking the criterion at <NUM> in the method <NUM> shown in <FIG>. These circumstances may further relate to the magnitude of the offset. <FIG> shows in an embodiment, that the criterion checking block <NUM> of the method <NUM> shown in <FIG> additionally comprises, at <NUM>, comparing the magnitude of the offset with a threshold. The offset threshold value may be between <NUM> kilometres per hour and <NUM> kilometres per hour. In an example, the threshold value may be <NUM> kilometres per hour.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a flowchart illustrating a method, indicated generally by the reference numeral <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the invention. The method <NUM> comprises, at <NUM>, monitoring the speed limit for the location of the vehicle to detect a change in the speed limit. As discussed above, there are a number of known methods to derive the speed limit for the present location of that vehicle. If a change in speed limit is detected, the method <NUM> analyses, at <NUM>, the distance since the last change in speed limit. If the distance since the last change in speed limit is greater than or equal to a distance threshold, the method <NUM> sets, at <NUM>, the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit.

If the distance since the last change in speed limit is less than a distance threshold, the method <NUM> compares, at <NUM>, the current speed limit to the last-but-one speed limit. That is, if the current speed limit is the nth speed limit encountered on this journey, then the nth speed limit is compared to the (n-<NUM>)th speed limit. If the current speed limit is not equal to the last-but-one speed limit, then the method <NUM> proceeds again to block <NUM> to set the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit. If however, the current speed limit is equal to the last-but-one speed limit, then method <NUM> sets, at <NUM>, the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit adjusted by any offset that had been applied to the speed of the vehicle at the last-but-one speed limit.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a flowchart illustrating a method, indicated generally by the reference numeral <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the invention. The method <NUM> of <FIG> is substantially similar to the method <NUM> shown in <FIG> except that the method <NUM> of <FIG> comprises an additional step. After the method <NUM> has compared the new speed limit to the last-but-one speed limit, the method checks, at <NUM>, if the magnitude of any offset that had been applied to the last-but-one speed limit is below a threshold value. If the offset is less than the threshold value, then method <NUM> sets, at <NUM>, the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit adjusted by that offset that had been applied to the speed of the vehicle at the last-but-one speed limit. If however, the offset is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the method <NUM> sets, at <NUM>, the speed of the vehicle to the speed limit.

It will be understood that the methods <NUM>, <NUM> described herein in relation to <FIG> and <FIG> are not limited as to the order in which the different criteria are checked. For example, checking the distance travelled since the last change in speed limit may be checked after the speed limits are compared, and so on.

The methods for automatically controlling the speed of a vehicle described herein in relation to <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG> may be carried out by the automatic speed control system <NUM>.

In a further embodiment, the automatic speed control system <NUM> may receive a further signal during the interim speed limit, wherein the further signal is indicative of a second offset to be applied to the interim speed limit.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a schematic of an example machine-readable medium <NUM> with a processor <NUM>. The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise instructions which, when executed by a processor <NUM>, cause the processor to perform the method <NUM> discussed above in relation to <FIG> and <FIG>. The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise instructions which, when executed by a processor <NUM>, cause the processor to obtain the speed limit at the location of the vehicle. The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise speed limit obtaining instructions <NUM> to perform the obtaining. The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise instructions which, when executed by a processor <NUM>, cause the processor to receive an input indicating the speed limit offset to be applied. The machine-readable instructions may comprise offset receiving instructions <NUM> to perform the receiving.

The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise instructions which, when executed by a processor <NUM>, cause the processor to, set the speed of the vehicle. The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise speed setting instructions <NUM> to set the vehicle speed.

The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise instructions which, when executed by a processor <NUM>, cause the processor to check for a criterion. The machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise criterion checking instructions <NUM> to check for the criterion.

In some examples, the machine-readable medium <NUM> may comprise additional instructions which, when executed by a processor <NUM>, cause the processor to perform alternative or additional actions in line with the methods and examples described herein.

The machine-readable instructions may, for example, be executed by a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, an embedded processor or processors of other programmable data processing devices to realize the functions described in the description and diagrams. In particular, a processor or processing apparatus may execute the machine-readable instructions. Thus, functional modules of the apparatus and devices may be implemented by a processor executing machine readable instructions stored in a memory, or a processor operating in accordance with instructions embedded in logic circuitry. The term 'processor' is to be interpreted broadly to include a CPU, processing unit, ASIC, logic unit, or programmable gate array etc. The methods and functional modules may all be performed by a single processor or divided amongst several processors.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown timing diagrams illustrating examples according to embodiments of the invention. In the <FIG>, there is shown two examples where the updated speed limit is lower than the initial speed limit. In the upper diagram of <FIG>, the speed set by the automatic speed control system <NUM> is indicated by the line <NUM>. The speed limit is <NUM> kmph. At the start of the diagram, the vehicle speed is set to the speed limit. Then at <NUM>, an offset is applied and the vehicle speed is increased to (<NUM>+offset) kmph. At <NUM>, an upcoming reduced speed limit is detected, and the vehicle speed is reduced to the reduced speed limit of <NUM> kmph. At <NUM>, the updated speed limit comes into effect and continues until <NUM>. The vehicle speed is set to the updated speed limit between <NUM> and <NUM>. The physical distance between <NUM> and <NUM> is less than a threshold distance. At <NUM>, the speed limit returns to <NUM> kmph. Therefore, as the distance at which the updated speed limit was applicable is less than the threshold value and the further speed limit is equal to the initial speed limit, the previous offset is reapplied to the speed limit such that the vehicle speed is set to (<NUM>+offset) kmph. In the lower diagram of <FIG>, the speed set by the automatic speed control system <NUM> is indicated by the line <NUM>. The early stages <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the example are the same as those of the upper example. In the lower diagram of <FIG>, the updated speed limit ends at <NUM>, which is further away from <NUM> than <NUM> in the upper example. This leads to the distance at which the updated speed limit is applicable being greater than the threshold. Thus when the further speed limit is applicable at <NUM>, the offset is not reapplied and the vehicle speed is set to <NUM> kmph.

In the <FIG>, there is shown two examples where the updated speed limit is higher than the initial speed limit. In the upper diagram of <FIG>, the speed set by the automatic speed control system <NUM> is indicated by the line <NUM>. The speed limit is <NUM> kmph. At the start of the diagram, the vehicle speed is set to the speed limit. Then at <NUM>, an offset is applied and the vehicle speed is increased to (<NUM>+offset) kmph. At <NUM>, an increased speed limit is detected, and the vehicle speed is adjusted to the increased speed limit of <NUM> kmph. The updated speed limit continues until <NUM>. The vehicle speed is set to the updated speed limit between <NUM> and <NUM>. The physical distance between <NUM> and <NUM> is less than a threshold distance. At <NUM>, the speed limit returns to <NUM> kmph. Therefore, as the distance at which the updated speed limit was applicable is less than the threshold value and the further speed limit is equal to the initial speed limit, the previous offset is reapplied to the speed limit such that the vehicle speed is set to (<NUM>+offset) kmph. In the lower diagram of <FIG>, it can be seen that an offset is already applied. The updated speed limit ends at <NUM>, which is further away from <NUM> than <NUM>, and the distance at which the updated speed limit is applicable is greater than the threshold. Thus when the further speed limit is applicable at <NUM>, the offset is not reapplied and the vehicle speed is set to <NUM> kmph.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle being indicated generally by the reference numeral <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> may comprise the automatic speed control system described herein, and/or may be adapted to implement one or more of the methods for automatically controlling the speed of the vehicle.

Throughout the specification, the updated speed limit may be referred to as the temporary speed limit or interim speed limit. The initial speed limit may be referred to as the last-but-one or (n-<NUM>)th speed limit. The further speed limit may be referred to as the nth speed limit.

Claim 1:
An automatic speed control system (<NUM>) for a vehicle (<NUM>), the automatic speed control system (<NUM>) comprising one or more controllers, the automatic speed control system (<NUM>) configured to:
obtain (<NUM>) an initial speed limit, wherein the initial speed limit is the speed limit at a location of the vehicle (<NUM>); and
receive (<NUM>) a signal identifying a speed limit offset,
characterised in that the automatic speed control system (<NUM>) is configure to:
set (<NUM>) the speed of the vehicle (<NUM>) to the initial speed limit combined with the offset;
obtain (<NUM>) an updated speed limit;
set (<NUM>) the speed of the vehicle (<NUM>) to the updated speed limit;
and subsequently,
obtain (<NUM>) a further speed limit; and if at least one criterion is met,
set (<NUM>) the speed of the vehicle (<NUM>) to the further speed limit combined with the offset.